Steering-balloon.



EATENTED MAY 31., 1904.

l P; DELEEET.

STEERING EEJJLoo-E.` APPLICATION FILED MAB. 3. 1903.

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lNvnN-roal A'r-roliNLys PATENTED MAY-"'31,` 1904, P. DELBBRT. STEERING BALLOON.

APPLICATION FILED KAB. 3. 1903. "Fig, 1A-

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INvEN'ToH m, wow-uwe wAsmu PATENKTBD MAX a1, 1904.

1. DELBBRT.

STEERING BALLOON.' APPLICATION.V HLED IAB. 3. 1903.

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f No. '761,062. PATENTBD MAY 31, 1904'r P.. DELBERT.

STEERING B'ALLOON.

l APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 1903. H0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 31, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIPPE DELBERT, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

STEERING-BALLOON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,062, dated May 31, 1904.

Application ."iici, March 3, 1903.

clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

The invention which is the subject of the present application for a. patent refers to a new system for steering a balloon.

The essential characteristics of my invention are, first, the special arrangement of a double helix acting as a propeller on a rigid balloon, which turns with its axis or around this latter Linder the action of the energy transmitted to it from a source in the car, which is suspended in a special manner; second, the arrangement for the suspension of the motors to the rigid envelop carrying the helix or to the axis on which it revolves and also the manner of connecting themotors to thesource of energy; third, 'the arrangement which insures the automatic working of the safety-valves, which are suitably mounted.

upon the envelop. 4

My invention is represented in detail on the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1 and lA show the entire balloon in elevation. Fig. 2 is a detail of a portion of the surface of the rigid envelop in elevation, showing a piece of the double helix which it ,carries and the way this latter is secured. Fig. 3 is a detail in elevation of a diaphragm for the automatic operation of the safetyvalves. Fig. 4 is a detail in elevation, on a larger scale, showing the manner of suspension of one of the motors and they means for directing the axis of the balloon, also the guide of the link of suspension of the car, shown in plan in Fig. 7 Fig. 5 is a section of a detail through C D of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a section of a detail through A B of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a partial sectional elevation showing the method of driving the rigid envelop in the case in which it turns around its axis, this latter remaining fixed. Figs. 9 and l() show in partial sectional elevation the details of the arrangement for the automatic operation of the safety-valves, the valves being respectively closed and open.

tors.

Serial Ro. 145,881. (No model.)

In the example in Figs.,1 and. 1A the rigid envelop a is virtually made in one with the tube c and the latter is operated by the mo- The envelop a, which has the shape of an ellipsoid of revolution, is preferably made of sheets of aluminium suitably joined together and hooped inside and out. On the surface is secured by angle-pieces d and e, Fig. 2, a double-surface helix-that is to say, presenting two inclinations at forty-five degrees, or forming, in other words, an angleiron or V reversed. The double helix extends from one pole to the other of the ellipsoid, its pitch being advantageously made ,equal to the length of the axis between the two poles. It can, if preferred, be made smaller. The helix is at every point on the surface'inclined at forty-ve degrees to the tangent of the ellipsoid, and it is possible by means of this double helix to effect a movement backward or forward by means of a reversible motor. The axis c is adapted to turn in bearings which are shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. At each vend the bearings are similar. Each consists of a ring f of antifriction metal, so shaped that the transverse section consists of two parabolas joined in reversed positions, which reduces the points of contact with the tube to a minimum, and two steel collars g, secured to the tube, which inclose laterally the aforesaid ring. This ring is embraced by a steel strap 7i, made in halves suitably fastened together. The width of f being greater than thatof It, L does not rubvagainstthe collars g. The exterior straps t /zserve also to support a semicircular supporting-bar o', which is rigidly secured to the straps 7L It. This bar z'- provides, with the assistance ofthe brackets j, a support for the motor lo and also serves as a path for the rolling and guiding of the head of the suspension-cable Z. This head consists of a fork m, between the branches of which is carried the axis of a roller a. The movement of the roller n is thus limited by the brackets j. The motors c transmit to the tube c the movement of their shaft 0 by any suitable means of transmission-such as a chain p, for example, fitting into two sprocket- IOO 'wire a corresponding length.

is secured the two cables Z, each having a rolling head and which serve also to carry the conductors u, intended to convey the currentderived from the generating source o, carried in the car. Two metal wires a', of which one end is fastened to a suitable point in each of the semicircular bars of suspension t', are wound at their other ends on the windlasses y, carried by the car, and permit of an inclination being given to the balloon while the car is maintained in a horizontal position. In effect, as is easy to understand by examining the diagram of Fig. 11, it is sufficient in order to incline the balloon downward on the left to shorten'the wire a certain length 2, at the same time lengthening the opposite The car will be displacedffrom fu to o', moving parallel to itself by means of the connectionof the suspension-links, the leading-pulleysl l in the plane of the windlass assisting in the preservation of this parallelism. The poles of the envelop c are strengthened by sockets 2. which are secured tothe tube c. ,p The rudders 3 can be attached by hinges onto the suspension-cables Z, and their movements may be limited by an abutment-rod 1. The steering of the' car is effected by means of wires 6 6 and cross -poles o. All these arrangements remain to some extent the same in the case when the tube c is fixed and only the envelop a rotates upon the tube. In this case, however, a tube 7 of small thickness, Fig. 8, extends from one pole to the other of the ellipsoid and separates the envelop t from the tube c, forming an air-tight joint. The sockets 2 carry bearings constructed similarly to that of Figs. 5 and 6 and serve at the same time as a support to a mechanism adapted to receive the motive power. This mechanism may be, for example, as shown in Fig. 8, a spur-wheel 8, to which movement is transmitted by a pinion 9, fastened to the shaft 0 of the motor. The envelop a is in all cases provided with one or more manholes 10, with air-tight covers, for the purposes of construction, filling, and examination.

The arrangementbfor the automatic operating of the valves 11 is shown in dotted lines on the elevation ofthe whole in Figs. 1 and lA-and in detail in Figs. 9 and 10. Flexible diaphragms 14, such as are represented in elevation in Fig.' 3, are provided arranged in planes normal to the axis of the ellipsoid passing through the foci. The exterior circumference of these diaphragms is fastened to an interior hoop 12 of the envelop, While the central part of the diaphragm is secured to a sleeve 13, movable on the tube c. This sleeve is itself fastened by the wires 16 and 17 tobell-crank .levers 18, connected to each of the valves. These bell-cranks are pivoted on brackets 19. The valves, attached by hinges to the envelop,

'open outward and are normally held closed by springs 20. Under the influence of an interior expansion the diaphragms 111 tend to move away from the center toward the poles, (in the direction of the arrow 15 in the 'case ofthe diaphragm shown in Figs. 9 and 10,) and each bell-crank 18 will be pulled at the same time by a wire 16 and a wire 17. Each valvewill be thus lifted by the simultaneous movement of two opposite diaphragms.

It is apparent that the tubes c of two balylooms such as I- have just described can be coupled, if desired, and by means of transverse shafts, supported by the coupled tubes, have communicated to them a movement derived from a single motor carried by an intermediate ear', the weight of which is supported equally by the two envelops.

I claim- 1. In combination in a balloon, a rigid envelop, axles supporting the same, semicircular bars suspended from the axles, ya car, and means for suspending the car from the semicircular bars, said means having movement thereon, substantially as described.

2. In a balloon, a rigid envelop, a helix thereon, axles supporting the same, bearings on the said axles, semicircular bars suspended from the bearings, means for rotating the balloon carried by the semicircular bars, a car, and connections from the car to the semicircular bars, said connections having movement on the bars.

3. In a balloon, an axle for the same, bearings on the axle, semicircular bars suspended from the bearings, rollers carried on the bars and having movement thereon, suspendingcables attached to the rollers and a car supported by the said cables. v

11. In a balloon, a rigid envelop', a helix thereon, axles supporting the same, bearings on the said axles, semicircular bars suspended from the bearings, means for rotating the balloon carried by the semicircular bars, a car, adjustable connections from the car to the semicircular bars, and vconnections from the oar to the bars for inclining the balloon.

5. In combination in a balloon, an axle supporting the same, safety-valves in the balloon and means for automatically operating the said valves, consisting of a flexible diaphragm, a sleeve movable on the axle, a/hoop connected to the interior of the envelop, said diaphragm having its periphery and center connected with the said sleeve and hoop, a 'bell-crank connected to the valve and a connection from the sleeve to the said bell-crank whereby when the diaphragm is moved outwardly the bellcrank will, through the said connection, open the valve.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of. two subscribing witnesses.

PHILIPPE DELBERT. Witnesses:

LoUIs GARDET, AUGUSTUS E. INGRAM.

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